Module 2
Please respond thoughtfully and in your own words, supporting each statement of fact with cited
sources. Your response to each question should be at least 125 words.
1.What are the advantages and disadvantages of the different types of light and electron
microscopes discussed in Chapter 3 that are used to study microorganisms? Focus your response
in terms of the following parameters:
◦Range of magnification
◦Resolving ability
◦Sample preparation
◦Possible states of sample (e.g. whole organism, part of, living, non-living, etc.)
2.What type of microscope would you use to investigate each of the following scenarios and why
(your answer to question 1 will help):
◦Determine the relative sizes of two eukaryotic cells.
◦Determine how many bacteria are dying after a chemical treatment.
◦Determine where in a eukaryotic cell a particular protein is localized.
◦Identify a virus from a contaminated sample.
◦Visualize the sensory hairs on the surface of an ant’s antennae.
3.What are advantages and disadvantages of the differential staining techniques discussed in
Chapter 3 that are used to study microorganisms? Focus your response in terms of the following
parameters:
◦Ease and cost of sample preparation
◦Why you would use it (i.e. what information is imparted)
◦Specificity of identification
◦Chance of false positives or negatives